The Scarlet Shadow [UNDER EDITING]

Chapter 23

A black smoke circled Hanabi and she had sensed the presence of death. The black smoke has gone to Hanzo's side and it has shown its original form.

Hanabi watched as the god of death, Izanami, appears behind her nemesis. He is holding a scythe with its deadly blade being held together by a sharp, osteal bone. The god's presence emits the strong sense of death itself.

"It's been a while, scarlet ninja," the god said. "You've grown into such a  beautiful lady that even my akuma ninja could not resist. Ah, Amaterasu does really have her way to ruin my plans. If only I knew you'd be such a nuisance, I could have made Hanzo kill you with your father."

Hanabi tightens her grip on her Higanbana. She is aching to attack him but she is just a mere human and a god is way too strong for her to kill. And that god, right in front of her, is the god of death himself.

"You see, the death of your father has done great thing to me. More bloodshed had occurred, ah, what a beautiful sight that is. But I do sympathize with the death of your whole clan. It wasn't my intention to leave you all alone," said the god calmly as if he is just having a break from the world's cruelness.

While he is conversing with Hanabi, Hanzo's wounds healed and the demonic energy inside him was removed by the death god. He regains his strength back and watched how the death god circles around the scarlet ninja.

"You see, Hanabi, my only plan is to have Hanzo go around the world and spread bloodshed for me. That is the reason why I have some remains of myself implanted inside the very core of him. But Amaterasu and you are becoming a big nuisance and it's very annoying," the death god remarked.

"Human lives are not something you could play with, Izanami," Hanabi bluntly replied.

"Oh what a terrible term for you to call my job as only a play. Hanabi, as the death god, it is my responsibility to balance the power of Amaterasu who creates and maintains life. Her existence and my existence are both important for we maintain the proper equilibrium of this world."

Izanami turned back into his original form, a god with silver hair, with shadowy extra hands surrounding him.

"Hanabi, you're the only person who hinders my akuma ninja to do his job. I give you my respect but you have disrespected me in return. Now, for my akuma ninja to perform his mission perfectly, all I have to do is have you stay with me... Forever."

Izanami lets out a chuckle while he grips his scythe. Hanabi stanced readily. She knew Amaterasu would never leave her side and she would be alright even if she is against the god of death.

"I do admire you, Hanabi, but letting you live would cause imbalance."

Izanami tightens his grip on his life-taking scythe. With his dark power, he blinded Hanabi effortlessly. The god of death swings his scythe yet before it cuts through the scarlet ninja, Hanzo had his Ame no Habakiri drawn out and holds his weapon in place.

"Oh my," Izanami chuckled. He withdraws his scythe and reduced his size into that of a human. "Are you betraying me now, Hanzo?"

Hanzo did not respond. He suddenly felt an excruciating pain on his nape which made him kneel down on his knees right in front of the death god.

"That is the consequence if you go against me, my dearest ninja," Izanami said as he walks towards him. "Hanzo, you were the perfect medium for me to reside in yet you became imperfect when you have set your eyes on that scarlet ninja."

"I do not work for you, dumbass," Hanzo sneered.

"You've got the attitude to curse at me. But do not forget that I have granted you so much power. I have given you the skills of a deadly assassin and yet you're not using it wisely. You are letting your emotions work rather than your intellect. Do you think I do not have the power to get those back? Those power, that Ame no Habakiri, and even Hanekage. I could retrieve them back right now if you do not kill that woman."